The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-05-18
The Democratic Programme.


The Democratic Programme.
The National Republican of Wash
ington publishes what purports to be
veracious account of conference of
leading democrats and the programme
which they have adopted in prepare
ton for the campaign of 1888. Whether
this account is based upon actual facts
or not, it probably outlines in some
measure the probable policy of the adj
ministration. 1t is stated that grand
council was held recently in New York
city, in which ex-Secretary Manning
was represented by ex-Treasurer Jor-
dan; the President by Secretary La
mont; the city of New York by Mayor
Hewitt and ex-Mayor Cooper; the press
by Dorsheimer of the Star and Jones
of the Times the state of New York
by Governor Hill himself and Smith
M. Weed, political executor of Samuel
j. Tilden. After a discussion of sew
eral hours Governor Hill was induced
to assent to Cleveland's denomination,
with the understanding that the whole
power of this New York regency for
the purpose of controlling the presi-
dency should support him-Governor
Hill-for '92, thus giving New York
the continuous control of the presi-
dency from sixteen to twenty years.
This decision, it is stated, brings
with it change of administrative
policy, covering the following points:
First, that the credit of this government
being higher than any other gov
eminent, and that this nation being
the richest nation on the face of the
earth, there is no longer any necessity
for boarding a vast surplus of money
in the national treasury to maintain its
credit or the credit of the bonds now
outstanding. 1t is therefore thought
the part of wisdom to call an extra
session of congress about the time for
moving the crops-say the LIST of Octo-
ber-to make provision for the distri-
button of the surplus; for the repeal of
the war tax upon tobacco; the passage
of the deficiency bill; the passage of
the fertilization bill; further appropri-
ations for the building of the navy,
and to stimulate the employment of
labor in all the private and public
works and factories of the country;
that the fight against silver should
cease, as it has been demonstrated that
the accumulation of silver does not re-
pei but attracts the yellow metal
known as gold that railway construc-
ton for the employment of labor and
capital is to be encouraged and not de-
pressed. To this end an important
amendment will be recommended, by
the President in his message to con-
gress, to the interstate commerce law.
In fact, everything that can be done
to build up enterprises, to stimulate
business, 10 avert money panics and
labor strikes will be the future earnest
pOllCy Vi JHlS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
This might prove a sagacious pro-
gramme for the democracy, if it were
possible to carry it out successfully
but the democratic majority in the
house of representatives. have demon
strated their incompetency to conceive
and perfect important legislation, and ,
indeed, have been unable TO unite upon
any settled line of policy. With only a
small majority in the next house, a
divided leadership and diverse views
on all the great questions of public
policy, it seems a manifest impossi-
bility that the prospective programme
can be executed with any great meas
ure of success, however much its en-
tire success might rebound to the adj
vantage of the President and the party
in power If the administration has a
definite policy it may not be the one
here outlined; but whatever it is, il
will be confronted with the same OBJ
stacles which for two years have made
the democratic majority in congress
ineffective for anything except mis-
chievous agitation.